In February we celebrated LGBT+ History Month, honouring the heritage of the LGBT+ community worldwide.

This year’s theme encouraged all of us to look ‘Behind the Lens’ to listen to LGBT+ people’s lived experiences, as well as celebrate LGBT+ peoples’ contribution to cinema and film - from directors and screen writers to animators, costume designers, musicians and beyond.

Marking LGBT+ History Month in the Palatine Centre

We invited our community to join us in discovering more about this year’s LGBT+ History Month theme, with a look at the important people and moments in LGBT+ history that made the film, photography, and music industries what they are today.

Events also took place throughout the University, from an exploration of the Roman reception of Sappho with our Department of Classics, to a talk from visiting historian Stephen Bourne. Stephen spoke about his book Fighting Proud, in which he explores the lives of gay men in battle and on the home front in the Second World War.

With the help of some of our wonderful student-led societies and Durham University teams, we also shared some of the best moments of LGBT+ History Month at Durham over on our social channels.

Diversifying our collection in the Library

History Month and beyond

We’ll be continuing to showcase events taking place here at Durham and throughout the region all the way through to the 10^th anniversary celebration of Durham Pride on 28 May and throughout Pride Month in June. 

Keep a look out on our channels to see what’s coming up, including the launch of ‘Pride in the Armed Forces’ at the end of May.

Find out more:

• Learn more about the history of gay and lesbian representation in British cinema from author Stephen Bourne here.
   
• LGBT+ History Month was founded in 2004, in celebration of the ending of Section 28, a bill that banned local authorities from ‘intentionally promoting homosexuality or publishing material with the intention of promoting homosexuality’ and banned teaching in any school ‘the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship’. Visit the LGBT+  History Month website.